Advancing into Tennessee from Florence, Alabama the Confederate Army of Tennessee (Lieut. Gen. John Bell Hood) created a diversion at Columbia, Tennessee as part of a maneuver to cross the Duck River upstream. After skirmishing with Forrest’s cavalry, Union forces under Maj. Gen. John Schofield occupied Columbia on November 24-25, 1864. Anticipating an assault from Hood, Schofield constructed earthworks south of town before withdrawing to Spring Hill on November 29.
Belmont
Subject to orders from Brig. Gen. Sooy Smith, Col. Benjamin Grierson (commanding 1 st Brigade, XVI Corps USA) mounted an